Catherine Cornaro

Catherine Cornaro (25 November 1454-10 July 1510) was the last ruler of the Kingdom of Cyprus, reigning from 26 August 1474 to 26 February 1489. Catherine was born into an influential family from the Republic of Venice, and she married King James II of Cyprus in November 1472, becoming the queen consort and bearing him an heir, James III of Cyprus. In 1473, James was allegedly murdered by Catherine's uncles, as was the young James III. In 1489, she decided to sell Cyprus to Venice, bringing an end to the last crusader state.

Biography
Catherine Cornaro was born on 25 November 1454, the daughter of Marco Cornaro and Fiorenza Crispo. The House of Cornaro produced four doges, and her family was involved with trading Asian goods, owning sugar mills in Limassol, Cyprus. In 1472, she married King James II of Cyprus and became queen consort, but her greedy uncles decided to have James poisoned; Catherine and King James' son James III of Cyprus was also murdered in 1474, leaving Catherine as the ruler of the Kingdom of Cyprus. From 1474 to 1489, Venetian merchants controlled Cyprus, and on 14 March 1489 she sold the administration of the country to Venice, ending its independence. Catherine left Cyprus on 14 May 1489, and she was made Sovereign Lady of Asolo in compensation for the loss of Cyprus. She died in Venice in 1510.